Kerala: PK Sasi to contest from Ottapalam as independent

Palakkad: CPM will face yet another rebel candidate in the district, with former MLA P K Sasi deciding to contest as an independent from Ottapalam.Sasi was recently expelled from the party. An association of members who quit CPM, calling themselves Marxist Janadhipathya Koottayma, declared that Sasi would be fielded as a UDF-backed independent candidate.Sasi will be challenging incumbent MLA K Premkumar, his former party colleague.While Sasi has begun door-to-door visits in Ottapalam, his supporters said he would begin his election campaign with a roadshow on Thursday. UDF has not yet made an official announcement of support to him.CPM expelled Sasi from the party after he allegedly made antagonistic remarks against the local leadership, including district secretary E K Suresh Babu, at a rebel convention in Palakkad on March 5.Earlier, he was stripped of his posts and recently stepped down as chairman of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. He was accused of sexually harassing a DYFI woman member.